Walk into a good hotel bathroom and it feels calm straight away. It’s clean, uncluttered, the towels are thick and there’s a robe waiting on the back of the door. The good news is that almost none of that comes down to tiles or tapware. You can get most of the feeling at home without a renovation.
Here’s where to start.
Clear the benchtop
Hotel bathrooms feel calm because there’s nothing on the bench. At home, the vanity tends to collect everything: toothbrushes, skincare, hair tools, half-empty bottles.
Start by taking everything off and only putting back what you use every day. Group those items on a small tray so they look intentional. Move everything else into a drawer, cabinet or basket. If you only do one thing from this list, make it this one.
Upgrade your towels
Towels do a lot of the visual work in a bathroom, and tired, mismatched towels drag the whole room down.
- Choose one or two colours and stick to them. White, stone, soft grey and muted greens all look fresh and calm.
- Buy in sets, so bath towels, hand towels and face washers match.
- Have enough to rotate. Two full sets per person means there’s always a clean, dry set ready to go.
- Fold or roll them neatly on an open shelf or ladder. It’s an easy way to make a small bathroom look styled.
When towels start to feel rough or thin, move them into the cleaning cupboard and replace them.
Add a robe hook and a good robe
This is the cheapest hotel trick there is. A sturdy hook on the back of the door or beside the shower, with a robe hanging on it, instantly makes a bathroom feel more like a retreat.
Nothing feels more like a hotel than reaching for a plush bathrobe after a shower. Canningvale makes terry robes for a heavier, warmer feel, and bamboo/cotton robes that are lighter and dry faster, which is handy in humid parts of Australia.
As a rule of thumb, terry suits cooler climates and winter mornings, while a lighter bamboo/cotton robe is better for warmer months or anyone who finds terry too heavy. If your bathroom doesn’t get much airflow, a faster-drying robe also helps avoid that damp, musty smell.
Lighting and mirrors
Lighting is the difference between a bathroom that feels clinical and one that feels relaxing.
- Layer your lighting. A bright overhead light is useful for cleaning, but add softer light around the mirror for everyday use.
- Choose warm white globes for a softer, more flattering light.
- Consider a backlit or framed mirror. A larger mirror also makes a small bathroom feel more open.
- Add a dimmer if you’re already calling an electrician. It’s a small cost that makes a big difference in the evening.
Storage that hides clutter
You can’t have a calm bathroom without somewhere to put things.
- Recessed shower niches keep bottles off the floor and the bath edge.
- Drawer organisers stop vanity drawers turning into a mess.
- Matching baskets on open shelving hide spare toilet paper and cleaning products.
- Over-the-toilet shelving uses wall space that’s otherwise wasted.
Decant hand wash and body wash into simple matching bottles. It’s a small change that makes the space look far more considered.
Scent and greenery
Hotels think about how a room smells as well as how it looks.
A reed diffuser or a candle on a high shelf adds a subtle scent. Fresh eucalyptus hung from the shower head releases a lovely scent with the steam. Plants that cope with humidity and low light, like peace lilies, ferns and pothos, add life to the room and soften all the hard surfaces.
Open the window or run the exhaust fan after every shower. It’s the easiest way to keep the room smelling fresh and stop mould before it starts.
Tips for small bathrooms
Most Australian homes don’t have a huge ensuite, but small bathrooms can still feel luxurious.
- Keep the colour palette light to make the room feel bigger.
- Use a clear glass shower screen instead of a curtain.
- Go vertical with tall, narrow storage.
- Choose a wall-hung vanity if you’re renovating. Seeing the floor underneath makes the room feel larger.
- Limit decoration to two or three pieces. In a small room, less really is more.
A hotel-style bathroom isn’t about spending a fortune. It’s about clearing clutter, choosing a few good-quality things and making the space feel cared for. Start with the benchtop and the towels this weekend, add a hook and a robe, and you’ll notice the difference the next time you step out of the shower.